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Some flexibility exists to potentially add pitching

Some flexibility exists to potentially add pitching

ANAHEIM -- With two months left in the offseason and four new, moderately priced pitchers added to the staff, all people seem to be wondering about the Angels is: Are they done?

"You can ask me that question 365 days a year and the answer is, 'No,'" general manager Jerry Dipoto said Wednesday, when Joe Blanton, Tommy Hanson, Sean Burnett and Ryan Madson were introduced at the ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney. "We're constantly looking to get better, whether it's small subtle moves, whether it's increasing the depth in the organization, bettering our systems or programs or talking about impact free agents. We're always looking to get better."

Don't take that to mean the Angels are immersed in talks to acquire Kyle Lohse or Anibal Sanchez or Ryan Dempster or Edwin Jackson or basically anybody at this point. They aren't.

But they do have some, albeit very little, flexibility.

The possibility still exists for the Angels to acquire another free-agent starter in January if the market dries out on him and his price tag comes down -- like what happened to Madson last offseason -- a source told MLB.com.

Such a scenario may be unlikely, but is at least possible.

The Angels' payroll in 2013 isn't expected to be higher than $145 million, but owner Arte Moreno may be flexible with that if he feels the addition will go a long way in improving the Angels' pitching staff. The payroll right now, factoring arbitration projections and minimum salaries, is roughly $140 million.

Right now, the Angels have six capable starters in Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson, Hanson, Blanton, Garrett Richards and Jerome Williams. But Williams can be a long reliever, like he was down the stretch last season, and Richards can still be optioned to the Minor Leagues.

Will the ideal opportunity to add another arm present itself in January? Maybe.

But the Angels, at least, don't feel like it has to.

"Our goal was to create one-through-12 pitching depth, and I feel like largely we've done what we've intended to do," Dipoto said. "I don't feel like anything else is imminent, I don't feel like anything else is pressing and I don't think anything else is required."